3

Someone in my neighborhood wants to donate a used Aron Kodesh to a shul. There is a shul in my neighborhood that I thought could use it, but they have one, already. But, I'm wondering if they would be allowed to use it as a Sefarim closet? Or is this a case (no pun, intended) of moridin bakodesh (descending in holiness)?

I checked Talmud Megillah 26b which lists tashmishei kodesh and tashmishei mitzvah. They mention תיק של ס"ת, which I don't think is the same as an Aron. So, I'm uncertain what category that would be considered.

Improve this question
7
  • 1
    Doesn’t Megillah mention a teivah? I always understood that to be equivalent to an aron.
    – Joel K
    Commented Apr 17, 2018 at 19:43
  • @JoelK If I'm not mistaken, the term teiva means the table used for reading the Torah. In contrast, the amud is the table used for the shat"z's prayer.
    – DanF
    Commented Apr 17, 2018 at 20:23
  • Tik might very well mean "aron" in this case, as it seems unlikely (from other discussions on this site) that a Torah case of the Sephardi style was already in existence in the times of Chaza"l
    – Noach MiFrankfurt
    Commented Apr 17, 2018 at 21:48
  • @NoachMiFrankfurt I'm inclined to disagree. I think the term "aron" was already in use in the Talmud. Certainly, we see the term used in Tanac"h. Why wouldn't the Gemara use that term, here, directly, instead of another term if they meant "aron"?
    – DanF
    Commented Apr 17, 2018 at 22:04
  • Take a look at OC 153:2 where the mechaner defines a teivah as היכל שמניחין בו ספר תורה או לוח שמעמידין עליו ספר תורה. Sounds like an Aron Kodesh to me.
    – Joel K
    Commented Apr 18, 2018 at 17:30

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

According to Kitzur Yalkut Yosef 1:166:4-5 (A Sefardi Posek):

  • There are those that say you can put Gemarot and Halachic works in an old Aron Kodesh, since this was implicitly agreed upon from the outset.

  • One can rely on the Taz and others who are lenient and permit this, since it is better than burying it.

The Mishna Berurah (154:8, s"k 37) says that it appears from the wording of the Trumat Hadeshen (the source of this leniency) that it is better to explicitly allow the use of the Aron Kodesh for other purposes when donating or buying it for the synagogue.

The Mishna Berurah also adds that this leniency (of not having to explicitly permit the use of the Aron for other purposes) only applies to an Aron Kodesh bought for a synagogue, it does not apply to an Aron used to store a Sefer Torah in a private residence.

Improve this answer
9
  • I don't understand the 1st item. How was there an implicit agreement? Do you mean that when the Aron was built, it includes placing books as well as Sifrei Torah?
    – DanF
    Commented Apr 18, 2018 at 2:41
  • @DanF: Yes. It was a loose translation of "The heart of Bet Din made a condition [to include the Talmud and Halachic Works] from the beginning"
    – Menachem
    Commented Apr 18, 2018 at 2:44
  • @DanF: If you're looking for a practical solution, you can sell the Aron and use the money for Tashmishei Kedusha. The Aron then loses its holiness (See paragraph 6 in the Yalkut Yosef). Again, this is for Sefardim, I'm not sure what Ashkenazim would say, CYLOR
    – Menachem
    Commented Apr 18, 2018 at 2:46
  • 1
    @user6591 Goodness! In my case, now, I have no clue as to what a community does with a used Aron. All I know is that someone has this in his home and wants to donate it and I won the "lottery" but I can't locate a shul that needs it! Go figure why even a donation has to be so complicated!
    – DanF
    Commented Apr 18, 2018 at 14:19
  • 1
    @DanF enjoy your white elephant:)
    – user6591
    Commented Apr 18, 2018 at 14:48

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .